“Seeing Only Jesus”

“Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves;and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only”. –Matthew 17: 1-8.

What an experience! Matthew, Mark and Luke record it in their Gospels. John is possibly referring to it when he writes in his Gospel chapter 1 v14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth”.

Peter was so impressed, he wanted to build three ‘tabernacles’ “one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah” But before he could say any more a heavenly interruption came with the words we know so well “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased, hear him”. That, to use a well-worn phrase, put the fear of God into them! But when “Jesus came and touched them…” They recovered their focus and “saw no one but Jesus only”.

I have never ‘seen’ Jesus as they did. I have never had a ‘vision’ of Jesus, but in my spirit, I can truly say that I ‘see’ Jesus. As I follow him, as one of his present-day Disciples, I learn from him through his word with the help of his Spirit. My life in him is secure as I make his word the foundation of my life. After all, it was he who said: “Anyone who hears my words and does them is like a man who builds his house on a rock”. Dr John’s ministry over this weekend has been a challenge to us as a church to “Look to Jesus…” Hebrews 12 v1-2 says “…let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith”. Together, as one body, let us keep our eyes on him; the source of our life and the focus of our love. In the words of an old hymn;

“Dwelling in the secret placeOvershadowed by His graceLooking up into His faceSeeing only Jesus”